Shay Haluzak
ELA 6-7 Mrs. Greenwood
Research Paper
January 18, 2017
Fighting Alzheimer’s “So now, we feel it is important to share it with you. In opening our hearts, we hope this might promote greater awareness of this condition. Perhaps it will encourage a clearer understanding of the individuals and families who are affected by it.” This was part of the fortieth president Ronald Reagan’s speech announcing the start of his battle with Alzheimer’s Disease that would last ten years (Adams 21). Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects millions of Americans each year.
Fortunately, doctors know what symptoms to look for in Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, where it affects the part of the brain
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Daily tasks such as eating, bathing, walking, and talking become a lot harder (Adams 38). This all happens because of proteins called Beta-Amyloid proteins, which are proteins that clump and form plaque on the brains of people with AD (99). The proteins cause neurons in the brain to lose communication and die (61).
Though there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there are aids that can help. There are two medications that help slow down the progression, memantine and cholinesterase inhibitors (Adams 68). There are also simple everyday things people can do to decrease their risk of AD such as exercise (71). Long-term memories tend to last longer than more recent experiences so looking at old photos can also help (72). Early diagnosis can really help, it will give doctors a chance to put the person on medication that will slow down the progression of AD (24). Mental exercise and frequent social interactions have shown to help reduce risks (84).
Even though many people have suffered with Alzheimer’s disease, Ronald Reagan is just one case. On November 5, 1994 former president of the United States, Ronald Reagan announced the beginning of his battle with AD (Wagner 92). He announced the start by sitting down and writing a heartfelt speech to the public about raising awareness for the disease and helping other families who are dealing with AD have a clearer understanding about it (Adams 21). Even though Reagan
Imagine greeting your grandmother and being met with a blank stare. Think about how it would feel to watch as your father forgets how to drive or dress himself. Picture your own mother crying out for her long dead parents and siblings. Try to envision the look on a loved one’s face as you tell them that they can no longer live at home alone. Now put yourself in their place-- slowly losing your freedom, your memory, and your very identity. Welcome to the world of Alzheimer’s disease. This is the reality that nearly fifteen million caregivers and over five million patients must face every day. Public awareness must be raised about Alzheimer’s disease and the people it affects.
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of diseases that may cause the brain to fail. The most common one is Alzheimer’s followed closely behind by Parkinson’s. Alzheimer’s was discovered in 1906 by Dr. Alois Alzheimer, who discovered changes in the brain of a woman who died of an unusual mental. Her symptoms included memory loss, language problems, and unpredictable behavior. Doctor’s now look at brain scans to see abnormal changes in the brain. Doctors may ask questions both to the patient and a family member of the patient, such as, over-all health, past medical problems, ability to carry out daily activities, and changes in behavior and personality. They also might conduct tests of memory, problem solving, attention, counting, and language
Alzheimer 's disease (AD) is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain from which there is no recovery. There are three brain abnormalities that are the hallmarks of the Alzheimer’s disease is initially caused by plaques buildup in the brain’s neurons as illustrated in figure 1. The support structure that allows the flow of the nutrients through the neurons gets damaged and ultimately there is loss of connection among the neurons and they die off (National Institute of Health, 2015). This causes the brain tissue to shrinks, which is called atrophies. All this ultimately lead the victim of this disease to face difficulties in governing emotions, recognize errors and patterns, coordinate movement, and remember. Ultimately, a person with AD loses all memory and mental functioning.
Scientists have actually come up with some preventative measures against Alzheimer’s and the onset of this horrendous disease. Physical activity, brain stimulation (such as puzzles, games, regularly reading, watching television, and any other type of social activity), nutritious diet, and also there is an ongoing search for a vaccine. I saw where in Europe they actually treat their age-related dementia patients with gingko biloba. Gingko biloba is thought
A major devastating and debilitating disease, Alzheimer 's is a public health issue that affects not only the United States but also countries all around the world. In 2010, there were 35.6 million people living with Alzheimer’s. Researchers and medical personnel expect this number to triple by the year 2050. The disease is costing America an exorbitant amount of money and has become a burden on families, caregivers, medical personnel, the healthcare system, and the nation’s economy. If attention is not focused on this major problem, “nursing homes will be overloaded, caregivers will be burned out, healthcare system will be overwhelmed, and federal and state budgets will be overtaxed” (Alzheimer’s Association, 2011).
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and fatal form of dementia, frequently seen in the elderly altering their cognition, thought process and behavior. AD is reported in about half of patients that have a dementia diagnosis; one study states that about 10.3% of the population over 65 years is affected by dementia with an increase to almost 50% over the age of 8 (Beattie, 2002). Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of the aging process in humans, but rather found in a group of diseases that affect the brain leading to a decline in mental and physical control. AD when diagnosed has a very slow and gradual course, initially affecting the individual’s short term memory (Beattie, 2002). Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death, affecting more than five million people in the United States and is also one of the most common forms of dementia. Dementia can be defined as a disorder of progressive cognitive impairment severe enough to affect daily functions of an individual’s life (Fillit, et al., 2002).
Alzheimer's, the word strikes fear in some and an off-handed glance in others. The fact still remains that Alzheimer’s is an extremely shattering disease that removes the mind fraction by fraction over a period of time, this could even take decades. It begins as small memory lapses, slowly progressing to memory breaches but then progressively eroding your life to the point where around-the-clock care is the only option. With severe Alzheimer's, as we almost hear daily that patients have wandered off and gotten lost. In my own life, my grandfather was not even able to recognize his family members. Alzheimer's was a little known disease before 1960, but today it threatens to completely derail the health system in the United States.
Alzheimers disease is inherited by having one altered copy of the disease in each cell. Alzheimers inheritance pattern is autosomal dominant, which means you only need one copy from your parents therefore, increasing the risk of getting the disease. People who inherit the copy only have one allele instead of two furthermore, increasing the rate of getting Alzheimer's. In 2011 country music legend Glen Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimers which ended his Goodbye tour. Glen Campbell recorded one last song prior to the disease taking him over about his love for his family and the seriousness of the disease itself. In 1994 President Ronald Reagan made a public announcement that he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. He started to raise public awareness about the disease that numerous people were obscure about. Ronald Reagan made November Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness month. Ronald Reagan later died in 2004 of Alzheimers. In 1975 Norman Rockwell was diagnosed with Alzheimers and he later died in 1978 of emphysema. Rockwell was a famous American painter that would use his artistic ability to change the way people apprehend things. Rockwell’s painting is used in dementia therapy across the world as a result of the recollection they exhibit. Peter Falk was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2008, he later died in 2011. It is said that Falk couldn’t even remember a part he played only
The theme of the seminar that I attended was entitled “Alzheimer’s Disease: The Basics”. The purpose of the talk by Carolyn Scales was to bring public awareness and better understanding of this progressive, irreversible brain disorder that affects five million people nationwide. The speaker explained that the term Alzheimer’s disease dates back to 1906 when Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German physician, presented the first case history of this kind, a 51-year-old woman, who suffered from a rare brain disorder. Later autopsy of her brain identified the plaques and tangles of what we call today Alzheimer’s.
Despite the number of lives Alzheimer’s disease has affected, it cannot be cured. An estimated five million Americans are affected by this disease (“Alzheimer’s Disease Fact Sheet”); treatment trials are being conducted in addition to extensive research to learn more about lifestyle choices to support brain health. As a result, researchers are beginning to find ways to prevent this disease. Lifestyle choices including physical activity, social engagement, obtaining a healthy diet, and receiving a good night’s sleep may help counteract Alzheimer’s disease and support brain health. Although an innumerable amount of people across the United States are affected by Alzheimer's disease, it can be prevented.
Alzheimer’s Disease is similar to a literal chipping block of the brain; it is like this conscious genetic machine that (figuratively and) continually deep-fries brain cells and makes them clump up into masses that entangle many cognitive processes that allow an individual to be who they are. It is the slow progression into death where the mental faculties are ravaged and pilfered; the sinews that tie each and every neuron and synapse together. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a condition where there are different effects for different people; but most of all, it is a disease that robs a person of their personality, memory, individuality and their functional health (Kail, 568).
For people developing Alzheimer’s disease, there is no actual test to diagnose a person with it. Doctors will diagnose a person with Alzheimer’s disease when they have a severe cognitive decline that will meet the standards of dementia, dementia is very consistent that it will turn in to Alzheimer’s disease and that no other
Imagine looking at your husband, children, or great-grandchildren and not knowing who they are or even that you should know who they are. This is what people with Alzheimer’s experience every day. The disease progressively gets worse and eventually gets to the point where the person cannot take care of themselves anymore. Currently there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but the treatments can certainly help people live their lives the best that they can. Today, the best treatments include medication, and incorporating healthy living strategies in to their lives.
“The human mind is a channel through which things-to-be are coming into the realm of things-that-are”, a notable quote from Henry Ford in 1930. The mind is a powerful thing. It has the ability to control our body in order to live, to talk, to share with others. Civilizations can be built, movements can start, governments can be constructed, etc. all because of the mind giving you a process. When there is a mental illness, it can make the process difficult. Alzheimer’s affects more than 5.2 million people today. Symptoms, myths, misconceptions, treatments are all fundamental in the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, and to hopefully prevent others from acquiring it in older age. * In 1906, Dr. Alois Alzheimer was the first one to
Another clue may be the effects the aging process has on the brain as it is harming the neurons in the brain causing the disease (NIA, 2012). Regardless of the cause, AD is a life altering disease in every aspect of the victim’s life.